Preparation, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Biodegradable Polyesters/Poly(Lactic Acid) Blends

Abstract

Series of biodegradable polyesters poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) were synthesized successfully by melt polycondensation. The polyesters were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR),1H-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), respectively. The blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and biodegradable polyester were prepared using a twin screw extruder. PBAT, PBS, or PBA can be homogenously dispersed in PLA matrix at a low content (5–20 wt%), yielding the blends with much higher elongation at break than homo-PLA. DSC analysis shows that the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallizabilities of PLA component are promoted in the presence of a small amount of PBAT.